Every week Sachem Patch will honor one deserving student in the Sachem Central School District with the title, "Whiz Kid."
Patch Whiz Kids: Sachem Robotics Team AfterShock 263
Key to Awesomeness: The Sachem Robotics team, AfterShock 263, competed in the New York City FIRST Mega Celebration last weekend at the Jacob Javits Center. Their group was entered in the FIRST Robotics Competition - LOGO Motion.
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Each year the robotics team builds a new 120-pound robot to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition against other teams from across the nation. Students work together with teachers and engineers from several companies across the area to build a robot from scratch.
“This is a one of a kind experience,” it says on the team’s website. “The experience students receive from working together as a team toward a common goal, benefits them far beyond what can be taught in any classroom. Several of the team members have received significant scholarships because of their participation in robotics.”
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According to New York City FIRST Regional Directors Ana Martinez and Pat Daly, All FIRST programs are organized around two basic components: 1) engaging kids in the hands-on, minds-on process of technological innovation; and 2) bringing communities together in celebration of students working smart in science and technology.
“As part of FIRST teams, students have the opportunity to apply math and science knowledge, solve problems, make decisions, collaborate as part of a team, exercise leadership, and manage resources – all essential skills in any successful enterprise,” they wrote in a letter to the participants. “In the same way that school athletes receive the applause of their fans, FIRST events celebrate the achievement of our future technologists.”
AfterShock 263 is a recognized team within Sachem schools and they are hoping to district does not lose sight of that and lump them in with other clubs.
Have a Whiz Kid to nominate? Email Sachem Patch Editor Chris R. Vaccaro at Chris@Patch.com.
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